http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-03-17/4kids-reports-us$21-million-loss-in-4th-quarter
The American licensing and distribution company 4Kids Entertainment released its report for the quarter ending December 31 and for the 2009 calendar year on Tuesday.
The company reported a net loss for the quarter ending December 31 of approximately US$21.3 million, compared to a net loss of US$19.6 million for the same quarter in 2008. The company posted a net loss for the 2009 calendar year of US$42 million, compared to a net loss of US$36.8 million for the 2008 calendar year. Net revenue for the quarter was approximately US$17 million, compared to US$12.8 million during the same quarter in 2008. Net revenue for the calendar year was approximately $36.7 million, compared to $57.2 million for 2008, a decrease of $20.4 million. Worldwide revenue for the Shaman King property was down US$0.4 million specifically. International broadcast sales for Yu-Gi-Oh! decreased to $0.5 million, but international broadcast sales for Dinosaur King increased to $0.8 million.
Kahn noted that "4Kids needs to return to its roots as a licensing and merchandising company [that] specializes in bringing wonderful Japanese programming and merchandising to the rest of the world." Kahn added that the company will be producing very little animated series on its own because it is much more costly than bringing over a Japanese franchise, even with the costs of dubbing, and so the "overall risk reward ratio is much more favorable."
Kahn said he has worked closely with his partners in Japan over the past year and a half, and on Monday the company signed an agreement for a "very important Japanese property" that the company will announce in the next few days. Kahn also said that they are rebranding the 4Kids TV network for the fall season with new series, with a number of the new series being "substantial Japanese hits."
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I say they got Shugo Chara.